Why Was Sam in Uncharted: The Lost Legacy?
Sam Drake, while not the central protagonist of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, plays a crucial, albeit indirect, role in its narrative. He’s not physically present in the game as a playable character or major NPC, yet his actions and connections to the main characters significantly shape the story’s landscape. The primary reason for Sam’s indirect involvement is that The Lost Legacy is a standalone expansion focusing on Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross, exploring their journey independent of Nathan Drake. However, Sam’s presence is felt because he was actively involved in events prior to The Lost Legacy. He served as a catalyst that put certain gears in motion, specifically relating to the main antagonist’s agenda and some of the game’s settings. His exploits, largely explored in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, lay the groundwork for the conflicts and motivations in The Lost Legacy.
Sam’s Pre-Existing Ties and Their Impact
The Hunt for the Tusk of Ganesh
Before the events of The Lost Legacy, Sam Drake worked alongside Chloe Frazer to collect the Tusk of Ganesh. This initial pursuit of the artifact is where Sam’s involvement truly begins. He and Chloe were trying to acquire the tusk, intending to keep it out of the wrong hands. However, their plans were thwarted when Asav, the main antagonist of The Lost Legacy, intervened.
Sam’s Capture and Asav’s Exploitation
During this initial encounter, Sam went missing, and Asav acquired both the Tusk of Ganesh and a disc required to unlock the ruins of the Hoysala Empire. The disc itself had clues crucial to finding the Tusk’s true location. This event was pivotal as it placed Asav in a position of strength and allowed him to start his search for the legendary Tusk. Further, Asav employed Nadine Ross to assist him specifically because of her former ties with Sam, knowing they had interacted before. He believed that Nadine would have a certain understanding of his motives or perhaps information that he could leverage.
Sam’s Role as a “Hoysala Expert”
To buy time for Chloe to rescue him, Sam pretended to be a Hoysala expert for Asav, intentionally misdirecting his men. This act of defiance, although not directly shown in The Lost Legacy, adds depth to the game’s story, as the players explore the places Sam was supposedly an “expert” in. This highlights Sam’s resourcefulness and his ability to still impact events even when in captivity. The narrative doesn’t just forget about him; instead, it uses the consequences of his earlier actions to shape the setting and circumstances of the main quest.
The Broader Narrative Context
Standalone Expansion
The Lost Legacy was deliberately conceived as a standalone adventure to allow other characters within the Uncharted universe to shine. Its design focus wasn’t to further Nate’s or Sam’s story, but to provide a fresh perspective with characters like Chloe and Nadine. Sam, however, is an unavoidable part of the broader context as he was a factor in how those characters arrived at their current positions in The Lost Legacy.
Sam’s Actions as a Catalyst
Although absent for most of the game, Sam’s actions are a catalyst. His earlier involvement in the search for the Tusk of Ganesh, his capture by Asav, and his subsequent manipulation of Asav’s search all contribute to the situation in The Lost Legacy. Without his past actions, the game’s storyline would take a completely different direction.
In summary, while Sam Drake isn’t a physically present character in Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, his actions preceding the game’s narrative heavily influence the story and serve as a crucial backdrop for the main conflict, therefore, it can be said he is there without actually being there.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why isn’t Nathan Drake in Uncharted: The Lost Legacy?
Naughty Dog felt that Nathan Drake’s story had concluded definitively in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. They wanted to explore other characters within the Uncharted universe, focusing on Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross.
2. Is Uncharted: The Lost Legacy a sequel to Uncharted 4?
No, it is not a direct sequel, but rather a standalone expansion to Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. It takes place after the events of that game but is its own independent story.
3. How is The Lost Legacy connected to the main Uncharted series?
The Lost Legacy is set within the same universe and continues the overarching themes of exploration and treasure hunting. It is linked to Uncharted 4 through shared characters and the implications of its story events, but it has no direct relationship with the previous storylines.
4. Why did Sam Drake lie to Nathan in Uncharted 4?
Sam’s compulsive need to find Avery’s treasure led him to lie to Nate. He also claimed to owe crime lord Hector Alcazar half the treasure to get out of prison. These lies pulled Nate back into the thieving world.
5. Did Sully betray Sam?
Yes, in the broader context of the Uncharted universe and the film adaptation, it is implied that Sully left Sam to die during a previous adventure. He then keeps this information from Nate for years.
6. Is Sam a villain in the Uncharted series?
While not outright evil, Sam is presented as a morally ambiguous character. He is willing to bend rules and betray people to get what he wants and manipulates others to get his goals met.
7. Where was Sam when Nathan first met Sully?
When Nathan stole Francis Drake’s ring in Colombia and met Sully, Sam was in jail somewhere. This explains why he wasn’t present and why he distrusted Sully later on.
8. Is there an Uncharted 5?
As of now, Naughty Dog has stated that they are “done” with the Uncharted series after Uncharted 4. Therefore, there’s currently no Uncharted 5 in development and none announced.
9. Does Sam survive in the Uncharted games?
Yes, Sam does survive. It was thought that he died during a previous adventure but later discovered that he was taken to a Panamanian jail to serve his remaining prison sentence.
10. How old is Sam compared to Nathan?
Sam is five years older than Nathan. His disappearance is what initially set Nate on a path of treasure hunting.
11. What were Sam and Chloe doing prior to The Lost Legacy?
Sam and Chloe were working together to find the Tusk of Ganesh, which was what placed Sam in his precarious position and the story in motion for The Lost Legacy.
12. Is Uncharted: The Lost Legacy shorter than other Uncharted games?
Yes, it is noticeably shorter than Uncharted 4, which works to the advantage of its fast-paced narrative. It hits the ground running with action and doesn’t have a drawn-out introductory section.
13. Is The Lost Legacy worth playing even if I haven’t played Uncharted 4?
While The Lost Legacy is better understood within the context of the broader series, it can be enjoyed as a standalone story. However, playing Uncharted 4 beforehand will enrich the experience with a more complete understanding of the characters involved.
14. What is the significance of the Hoysala Empire in The Lost Legacy?
The ruins and artifacts of the Hoysala Empire are central to the plot of The Lost Legacy. They provide the setting, the artifacts they seek and the cultural context of the game’s treasure hunt.
15. Does Sam appear in the Uncharted movie?
Yes, Sam Drake appears in the Uncharted movie. He is portrayed by Rudy Pankow, and he plays a similar role as in the video games, as the cause for Nathan’s involvement in the central plot and the brother Nathan had been led to believe was dead.